We are each faced with the concept of\n\u201cchoices\u201d in life, where we must choose among two or more options. Being faced\nwith the options to choose a partner, spouse, or friend is an unstoppable\nphenomenon for all. The important factor however is that the choices be made\nbased on the proper standards. The Infallible Imams (PBUT) have identified the\nproper criteria when faced with choices. For example, it has been narrated that\nImam Ali (PBUH) has said in this regards, \u201cNever trust a friend before testing\nhim (1)\u201d. It has also been narrated from Imam Ali (PBUH), \u201cDo not befriend a\nsweet talker, for he (will trick you with his sweet talk and) will present his\nill actions as proper, and he will want you to be like him (2)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, the more critical the matter\nbecomes, making the right choice becomes even more sensitive. At times, a\nchoice can affect one person or a few people, but sometimes a choice can affect\na whole nation. When a person is placed in an esteemed position for example, he\nwill feel obligated to appoint helpers and ministers to hold important\npositions. The greater a person\u2019s responsibilities, the more critical will be\nhis appointment of a deputy. Therefore, making the choice of a liable deputy is\na very important matter for a leader or ruler. The question is then, how can we\nmeasure people\u2019s liabilities for these matters?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imam Ali (PBUH) in an instruction\nletter to Malik Ashtar Nakhai, which summarizes his beliefs and thoughts to a\ngreat extent, defines the characteristics of a deserving deputy as such:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou will also\nhave to be very careful about your secretaries. You should entrust your work\nonly to those who are the best among them. Specially the affairs which are of\nconfidential nature and which deal with secrets, and the security of the State\nshould be entrusted only to men of noble character, not those who are\nintoxicated with power, position and prestige carry on propaganda and speak\nagainst the government in public, as they openly misbehave with you and\nconsider themselves so important as to ignore you or your orders in financial\ntransactions essential to the State, they avoid placing necessary papers before\nyou or attending to important correspondence. Particular care should be taken\nthat when the officers make contracts on behalf of the government or sign\nagreements, these contracts and agreements are not defective or harmful to the\nState, if they are negotiating any treaties and alliances they do not overlook\nor forsake the interests of the State or if they find the State in a weak and\nembarrassing position on account of unfavourable terms of treaties or due to\nintrigues, they should be able to find sensible ways out of them. See that they\nknow and realize their proper place and rank, because he who does not realize\nhis place and position will never understand those of others (3)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After clarifying the requirements of a\nsecretary or in general \u201cany position of responsibility\u201d, Imam Ali (PBUH)\npoints to another very sensitive issue, one which derives from the complexity\nof man. Obviously, those who attain high positions attract many friends, and\nwhile they seem to be very mannerly friends, they nonetheless may at times seem\nvery pious among people, at times they may flaunt their courage and strengths,\nand one day will see themselves more forgiving than anyone; and another day\nthey present themselves as the thinker of century. Such fake words and\ndishonest moves are only a plan for those to try to take advantage and attract\nthe mind of their superiors toward themselves; and hence gain control of power.\nTherefore, Imam Ali (PBUH) advices Maalik to prevent from relying on his\npersonal experiences to select officers but also consider the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou must\nremember not to select the officers for very important posts and not to trust\nthem completely simply because you have found them honest, diligent,\ntrustworthy and intelligent and have formed a good opinion about them; there\nare some people who, when it suits them, pretend honesty, diligence and\nfidelity and can put on the garb of piety and virtue and thus find their ways\nin the hearts of the rulers, though actually they are neither honest nor\ndiligent nor wise nor sagacious. Therefore, you must always look to the record\nor reputation of the services of such men during previous regimes; more\nimportance should be attached to their good reputation of truthfulness and\npiety. This kind of selection and supervision will prove that you are faithful\nto Allah and that you wish your Imam well (4)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, we should consider the\npoints which Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) has made about selecting a partner and a\ncolleague, either at our professional responsibilities or personal life as the\nprincipal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(The above is a\nselection taken from \u201cThe Principles of Ruling from the vision of Imam Ali\n(PBUH)\u201d by Late Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Fadhil Lankarani (with minor changes))<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Roshd Website offers condolences\nto all Muslims, especially you dear friend, upon 21st of the Month of Ramadan,\nthe anniversary of the martyrdom of the symbol of justice and courage, the\nfather of the nation and the commander of the believers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amir al-Mu\u2019minin, Ali ibn Abi Talib\n(PBUH), and commemorates the Nights of Qadr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
—————————————————————————————————<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1- Qurar\nal-Hikam, page 416<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2- Peak of\nEloquence: Wisdom #293<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3- Peak of\nEloquence: Letter #53 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
4- Peak of\nEloquence: Letter #53<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We are each faced with the concept of \u201cchoices\u201d in life, where we must choose among two or more options. Being faced with the options to choose a partner, spouse, or friend is an unstoppable phenomenon for all. The important factor however is that the choices be made based on the proper standards. The Infallible […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[18992,18994,18991,18566,18418,18993],"class_list":["post-4039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2012-08-10","tag-choices","tag-criteria-for-selection","tag-imam-ali","tag-occasion-letters","tag-standards"],"yoast_head":"\n